可預期從住院療護獲得哪些服務

When Symptoms Can't Be Managed at Home

Most of the time, hospice care is brought to the patient at home, since home is where most seriously ill people want to be: in familiar surroundings with familiar routines and familiar faces.

However, all hospices must offer inpatient care for pain control or acute or complex symptom management that cannot be managed in other settings. Inpatient care is provided in a facility-often a hospital, but also nursing facilities and free-standing hospice houses-that can provide round-the-clock clinical care.

Some patients may need the inpatient level of care to help them transition from hospitalized curative care to home hospice. Others receiving routine home care may have symptoms that become exacerbated. In either case, the patient usually receives inpatient care for a short period of time (3-5 days) until symptoms are under control, then returns home.

Severe agitated delirium, acute anxiety or depression secondary to the end-stage disease process requiring intensive intervention and not manageable in the home setting

Uncontrolled seizures

Minor procedures to aid in the comfort of the patient, such as removing fluid from the belly area (paracentesis) or placement of a permanent drain or tube.

The atmosphere in an inpatient hospice setting is markedly different from that of an acute care facility. It is calmer, its staff moving at a slower pace. They have time to talk with the patient, visit with the family, answer questions. Often the atmosphere is more homelike, too. All ages of family members and friends are welcome day and night, and arrangements may be made for overnight stays. But make no mistake: aggressive pain and symptom management is at work, with a goal of stabilizing the patient so they can return home.

四個療護層級

VITAS按聯邦醫療保險安寧療護福利的定義，提供四大類型或層級的療護：

常規居家療護。 This is how we provide 安寧療護 most often: in patients’ homes, long-term care facilities and nursing homes.

持續性療護（加護舒適療護）。 When medically necessary, acute symptom management is provided at home or in another facility by hospice staff in shifts of up to 24 hours/day so the patient can avoid hospitalization.

喘息療護。 Limited to up to five consecutive days, 喘息療護 provides a brief “respite” for the patient’s primary caregiver by admitting the home care patient to an institutional setting without meeting the “inpatient” pain and symptom management criteria.